Policy & Advocacy CVCA: Policy & Advocacy CVCA strongly advocates on behalf of the private capital industry with all levels of government to ensure the most amenable environment for private investment in Canada. Home Investing in Canada Policy & Advocacy Home As the national association representing Canada’s venture capital and private equity industry, CVCA works with governments to strengthen the conditions that enable private capital to form, scale companies, and build long-term economic capacity in Canada. Our advocacy focuses on the structural policy environment that shapes investment decisions. This includes tax competitiveness, capital formation, innovation incentives, and the global mobility of highly skilled talent. Our advocacy efforts are focused on these primary areas: Competitive Tax & Investment Regime A competitive tax and investment environment is essential to attracting long-term capital into Canadian companies. CVCA works with policymakers on issues including capital gains treatment, investment incentives, and cross-border competitiveness to ensure Canada remains an attractive destination for private capital formation and investment. Ensuring Capital Availability Access to capital is critical for companies at every stage of growth. CVCA engages with governments on policies that support capital formation and long-term investment, including growth-stage funding programs, institutional capital participation, and mechanisms that enable Canadian firms to scale domestically. Accessing World Class Talent High-growth companies compete globally for skilled talent. CVCA advocates for immigration and talent policies that support founders, technology professionals, and management teams building globally competitive companies from Canada. Current Policy Priorities CVCA works with federal and provincial policymakers on several structural issues affecting the flow of private capital into Canadian companies. Growth-stage capital formation and scaling capital programs Capital gains treatment SR&ED modernization and innovation incentives AI infrastructure and compute capacity Immigration pathways for highly skilled founders and technology professionals Capital deployment in strategic industries, including defence and advanced manufacturing Policy Analysis and Submissions NEW CVCA Pre-Budget Submission: Budget 2026 Canada’s tax and investment settings don’t reward the capital, companies, and talent that build a strong economy here, and the cost shows up as capital that leaves and companies that locate elsewhere. CVCA’s pre-budget submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance puts forward three recommendations to change that, without new program spending: -A Royal Commission on Tax Competitiveness and Investment to modernize Canada’s tax system, and, in the near term, a 100% capital gains exemption on qualified startup equity (up to $15M, five-year holding period, extended to limited partnership structures). -An evergreen model for federal venture programs, so returns from successful investments are reinvested into the next Canadian companies instead of resetting with each legislative cycle. -A redesigned Start-Up Visa, delivered as a targeted Entrepreneur Pilot for high-growth sectors, with milestone-based assessment and real accountability. Read the Submission Domestic Scaling Capacity in Canada Budget 2025 proposed a new $750 million early growth-stage funding envelope intended to address financing gaps as Canadian companies scale. CVCA has provided recommendations to federal departments on the design of this program alongside new market analysis examining venture capital participation patterns, capital deployment dynamics, and domestic scaling capacity in the Canadian market. Read the Recommendations Read the Analysis Federal Budget 2025: Private Capital Priorities Ahead of Budget 2025, CVCA submitted recommendations focused on expanding Canada’s supply of risk capital and strengthening the country’s investment environment. CVCA continues to engage with federal departments on the implementation of growth capital programs and other policy measures affecting private capital investment. Read the Submission Strengthening Canada’s Investment Environment This research examines policy options affecting tax competitiveness, capital formation, and innovation investment in Canada. The analysis informed CVCA’s recent policy submissions and advocacy on strengthening Canada’s investment environment. Read the Report